Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Buy a Vowel Birding!

Year 9,

I forgot to utilize “Buy a Vowel Birding” over the past few days. Many Arctic birds are now visitors near the Head of Lakes, including the first Snowy Owls of the season (one in Superior, and one in Ashland). I went looking for the Snowy Owl in Ashland, but missed seeing the bird. I know the owl is still in the area. I forgot to buy a vowel … the letter “Y” (sometimes a vowel) to make Snowy.

  • I found Snow Geese
  • I saw lots of Snow Buntings
  • I missed seeing the Snow”y” owl.

Anyhow, the other snow birds from the past two days.

Snow Bunting (these birds are some of the first to migrate back north in February)

Snow Geese (two very unusual morphs in terms of their coloration)

I also went out birding this morning which was the Deer Hunting Opener. One should never be worried about birding during hunting season. Just use common sense:

  1. If you are birding the Boreal Forest and its bogs, you won’t find many hunters. Deer do not like bog habitat. Thus, deer hunters do not like bog habitat
  2. Should you bird areas that are deer habitat, ensure you bird 2+ miles from any location where trucks and SUV’s are parked.
  3. Wear Blaze Orange or Bright Red
  4. You will be safer in the woods, that most cities!

Birding at the Top of the Watersheds

Year 9,

Ever heard the term “A Canary in a Coal Mine”? Supposedly years ago coal miners would bring canaries deep into the earth with them while mining. If oxygen levels fell to unsafe levels, the bird would demonstrate the effects first, pass out and thereby tell the miners to seek safety.

Earlier this week Cornell University issued their annual report on bird population health (or lack thereof). Folks, we’re killing our planet. The data is disheartening … from the report’s overview: “The United States and Canada have lost 3 billion breeding birds since 1970—a loss of 1 in 4 birds”. This is not a debate about climate change … the bird population loss is due to reduced or poisoned habitat. We all live in this habitat / land … A Canary in a Coal Mine. Think about it.

Personally I am very lucky and live on a migration highway (the North Shore of Lake Superior) and near the top of not one, but three watersheds (Mississippi River, Hudson Bay, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence). My local water is not downstream of anyone else.

Yesterday was a good example in that I tend to see birds most folks do not come across. Visiting the Forest Hill Cemetery I found a Rusty Blackbird. It was eating bugs in the middle of a small mudflat. Perhaps blackbirds do not excite you, but Rusty Blackbirds are just one small example of the problem. Cornell states: “The population has plunged an estimated 85-99 percent over the past forty years”.

Rusty Blackbird Finding Breakfast

On the Lookout for Merlins and other Raptors

Yesterday I also found a few Black-Billed Magpies up at Sax-Zim Bog.

First Fall Great Gray Owl!

Year 9

It is the time of year when young boys (and old guys like me) get excited. Every Fall Great Gray Owls start hunting after sunrise and nearer the roadside. All summer long the “gray ghost of the forests” are deep in the Bog, and rarely show themselves where humans dare to tread.

The weather forecast was perfect this morning for owling  … dead calm winds and overcast. Thus, long before sunrise I got in the car and drove northward arriving at one of my favorite spots as the sun was rumored to be coming up behind the clouds. When two of my favorite locations yielded me zippo, I changed strategy and Voila!

This Great Gray Owl hated, REALLY HATED noise. After dumping my car and slowly walking towards the owl, I learned walking on dirt / gravel was NOT an action desired by the bird (too noisy). When I moved my small and slow steps to the grassy area off to the side of the road, my presence was tolerated. Remember, these owls hunt using their hearing.

This morning’s Great Gray Owl

Playing Red Light / Green Light with the Great Gray! (none of the images are cropped)

Was convinced I had gotten too close, but nope!